KB Hands for Horses

04/09/2025

If there’s one thing I wish more people understood about horses, it’s this: They’re not being difficult. Most of what they're doing is reflective of YOU.

They are giving you a RESPONSE. Not out of defiance. Not out of malice. But because they are wired - biologically, psychologically, instinctively - to respond to the world around them for survival.

So when you step into their space frustrated, disconnected, anxious, or unclear - they feel that. And they respond accordingly.

I see two things all the time…

• A spooky horse is blamed for being naughty, but the rider is nervous, stiff, and barely breathing.
• A horse is labeled stubborn because he doesn’t respond to a cue - but the cue was unclear, poorly communicated - and then the horse is punished for being lazy and unresponsive.

In both cases, the horse isn’t the problem. The human involved, however, is.

There’s a lot of incompetence in the horse world - but instead of accountability, we blame the horse.
We slap on harsher bits, louder aids, more aggressive corrections.We label them bad, lazy, rude, or stubborn… when really, they’re just confused, frightened, or overwhelmed.

Horses cannot be 'bad', they are just horses. People are either bad handlers, riders, or trainers. This seems to be a truth rarely spoken or acknowledged.

Horses literally can't manipulate. They, very simply, reflect what we bring to the conversation.

And that’s the truth people don’t like to talk about:
If your horse isn’t responding well, it might not be about them - it's actually in most cases about you.

So when something feels off in a session, pause and ask yourself:

Am I breathing deeply and feeling compassionate and optimistic?
Am I calm and grounded in my body?
Am I present - or is my mind somewhere else?
Am I feeling scared, under pressure, or frustrated?

✨ Self-awareness is the MOST underrated skill in horsemanship. The more honest we become about what we bring into the space, the more compassionate and connected we become as partners. ✨

Because it’s never about control. It’s about connection.
And that connection? It always starts with you.

03/21/2025

An interesting post! Which one best describes your horse’s whorl?

Hidden Cowboy Secrets

03/07/2025

I never actually thought about it this way!

Rasping the hoof wall in laminitis.

I was chatting to Prof Pollitt last week about the laminar wedge.

He commented that rasping the hoof wall to reduce its thickness is like unlocking the prison that is containing the laminar wedge. By releasing that pressure the wedge will not have such devastating internal effects as when encapsulated by the wall prison it has nowhere to go but inwards.

My lightbulbs went off in my head!

I understand that the inward pressure and growth of the laminar wedge is catastrophic to the coffin bone.

The laminar wedge is a chaotic tissue formed from epidermal lamellae and white line and is an uncontrolled growth of cells without the correct instructions for cell division and growth.

The wall will diverge due to the lever forces on it as the horse walks- per Prof Pollitt. If the horse was in outer space the laminitis would still occur but there would not be any wall divergence or bone divergence as that’s all due to biomechanically forces.

Wow!

Interesting thoughts.

03/05/2025

Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence, organizations like the FEI and USEF continue to refuse to acknowledge or penalize riders for riding behind the vertical. This unwillingness to address the issue not only allows the practice to persist, but also disrespects the welfare of the horses involved. It's frustrating that governing bodies are not taking a stronger stance on this matter, especially when the negative impacts on horses’ health are so clear. It’s time we hold ourselves, and those in positions of power, accountable for the welfare of these animals, and make informed decisions that prioritize their well-being over outdated traditions or superficial ideals.

The horse in the picture is my own horse from 2018, when I was proud of him going that way. But, as I’ve learned and grown in my understanding of biomechanics, I’ve come to see the true cost of this position. Riding behind the vertical for any length of time, at any depth, is a welfare issue that can affect the horse's body in profound and long-lasting ways:

Pharyngeal Diameter Reduction
When the head is flexed behind the vertical, it leads to a reduction in the pharyngeal diameter, causing airway narrowing and obstruction. This impedes the horse's ability to take in sufficient air, particularly during exertion, leading to exercise intolerance, difficulty breathing, and increased effort to inhale. You may hear horses being ridden BV breathe incredibly loudly during exercise. Over time, this restriction can result in chronic respiratory distress, dynamic airway collapse, and places extra strain on the horse’s cardiovascular system.

Decrease in Lamellar Width
Hyperflexion of the neck and back can lead to a reduction in lamellar width in the intervertebral discs and associated tissues. This results in decreased structural integrity of the spine, causing increased pressure on the vertebrae and ligaments. Over time, this can lead to chronic discomfort, degeneration of spinal tissues, and increased risk of injury due to the compromised ability of the discs to absorb shock and support movement.

Decreased Flexion-Extension Movement
When the head is behind the vertical, it restricts the natural flexion-extension of the spine, particularly in the lumbar and cervical regions. This mechanical limitation impedes the horse’s ability to engage in full spinal articulation during locomotion. The restriction in spinal mobility results in increased compressive forces on the intervertebral discs, which exacerbates disc degeneration and accelerates muscle fatigue. As the back muscles are unable to stretch and contract freely, muscle soreness and joint pain develop, leading to chronic spinal stiffness. Over time, this abnormal spinal loading can predispose the horse to degenerative joint disease (DJD), particularly in the lumbar and cervical regions.

Increased Intrathoracic Pressure
The hyperflexed head and neck position associated with BTV increases intrathoracic pressure, which restricts the natural movement of the diaphragm and limits the expansion of the lungs during respiration. This restriction of lung capacity impairs ventilation efficiency, leading to reduced oxygen exchange and exercise-induced fatigue. The lack of full respiratory function means the horse will experience shortness of breath, increased muscle exhaustion, and an overall decrease in stamina. Over time, this chronic respiratory impairment may lead to airway collapse or dynamic airway obstruction.

Abnormal Hock Load Distribution
Riding behind the vertical results in abnormal distribution of forces in the horse’s limbs, particularly in the hindlimbs. As the horse compensates for the spinal misalignment, excessive load is placed on the hock joints, increasing the compressive forces and the shearing forces on the ligaments and tendons surrounding the joint. This leads to joint degeneration and ligament strain, predisposing the horse to arthritis, tendinitis, and chronic lameness. Over time, these repetitive forces increase the risk of hock injuries, such as ligament tears or tendon ruptures.

Asymmetry in Wither Movement
Hyperflexion of the neck disrupts the natural symmetry of the horse’s withers and their movement during locomotion. This asymmetry in the wither movement leads to imbalanced load distribution across the forelimbs and hindlimbs, creating uneven stress on the spinal column and musculature. The lack of symmetry in movement impairs the horse’s gait mechanics, which can compromise performance and increase susceptibility to musculoskeletal injuries.

Altered Intervertebral Angulation
The misalignment of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae caused by the unnatural head and neck position behind the vertical leads to altered intervertebral angulation. This biomechanical distortion places shear forces and excessive loading on the intervertebral joints and their surrounding ligaments. These forces interfere with normal joint kinematics and exacerbate wear and tear on the articular cartilage, leading to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs and ligaments. The resulting spinal instability causes chronic inflammation, pain, and reduced mobility.

Increased Intrathoracic Pressure
The hyperflexed head and neck position associated with BTV increases intrathoracic pressure, which restricts the natural movement of the diaphragm and limits the expansion of the lungs during respiration. This restriction of lung capacity impairs ventilation efficiency, leading to reduced oxygen exchange and exercise-induced fatigue. The lack of full respiratory function means the horse will experience shortness of breath, increased muscle exhaustion, and an overall decrease in stamina. Over time, this chronic respiratory impairment may lead to airway collapse or dynamic airway obstruction.

Electro-Myographic (EMG) Changes
The hyperflexion of the head and neck alters the natural activation patterns of key muscle groups, particularly those involved in neck, shoulder, and forelimb movement. Electromyographic (EMG) studies reveal abnormal muscle recruitment patterns, where certain muscles are overactivated while others are underutilized. This leads to muscular imbalance, uneven force distribution, and inefficient movement mechanics. Over time, this muscle dysfunction contributes to extreme muscle fatigue, chronic soreness, and increased risk of muscle strains or injuries. These EMG changes also alter kinetic efficiency, making the horse's movements less fluid and more taxing on its body.

Nuchal Ligament Tension
Hyperflexion dramatically increases tension in the nuchal ligament, which runs from the occipital bone to the spine and plays a crucial role in stabilizing the neck during movement. The excessive stretch on the ligament from being ridden behind the vertical causes increased tensile forces, leading to chronic strain and ligament fatigue. Over time, the ligament becomes stiffened, resulting in nuchal bursitis (inflammation of the bursa associated with the ligament). This chronic tension in the nuchal ligament leads to pain, inflammation, and decreased mobility in the neck and back. As the ligament loses its elasticity, it can lead to misalignment of the cervical spine, further stressing the thoracolumbar region and causing significant back pain.

Riding a horse in a forward head position with proper contact may take more time and effort, but it is the only true path to building strength, balance, and natural muscle development. Unlike riding behind the vertical, this approach honors the horse's biomechanics, promoting long-term well-being and performance without cutting corners. The consequences of riding behind the vertical go far beyond the immediate: the pain, discomfort, and irreversible damage it causes spread throughout the horse's body. Their welfare is in our hands, and with a deeper understanding of the impact of our choices, the right choices become very clear.

König von Borstel, U., Kienapfel, K., McLean, A. et al. Hyperflexing the horse’s neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 14, 22886 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72766-5

01/13/2025

I’m so glad more people are becoming aware of this!

12/26/2024

Some great info about alfalfa…

Alfalfa for Horses Nutritional Composition Forms of Alfalfa Benefits of Feeding Common Concerns When to Avoid Example Diets Alfalfa is a popular forage choice for horses and an ingredient in many equine feeds. This legume forage can be processed and preserved in many different way

12/25/2024

Wishing everyone a restful, safe Christmas!

12/18/2024

Slow Down
For decades, human athletes have understood the benefits of slowing down. The complex orchestration of muscles, fascia, closed kinematic and kinetic chains, involved in gaits and performances is easier to coordinate slowly. Our equestrian linear concepts of forwardness and balance are simplistic and false. Scott Grafton (Physical Intelligence) discusses ordinary people trying to walk on a balancing beam versus ballet dancers. The ballet dancers perform better because their education has developed muscle synergies that are not specific to the problem of walking on a balancing beam but allow them better balance control. Just stay still for a few seconds on a balancing beam. You will make numerous and minute muscle adjustments, maintaining the forces above your center of mass. You will remain in balance as long as your physique controls minute shifts. You will be off balance as soon as the shifts become larger movements. You might give yourself an illusion of balance running through the beam. You will be off balance and crash at the end, but if the video is edited to show only the run, you will show the same illusion of balance as a horse rushed on the forehand, leaning heavily on the bit.
Now, go back on the balancing beam and walk slowly. You will not be able to control your balance on the first day. For each leg moving forward, your whole physique will have to complete minute and numerous adjustments as does the horse walking slowly in balance. Indeed, it is more difficult than rushing through the beam with a hand supporting you, but your mind and physical intelligence will identify and develop muscle synergies and fascia work, improving your balance. The horse needs to do this when performing in balance while carrying a rider. For each leg movement, the back muscles need to center the forces above the center of mass. This education demands that we create an atmosphere that gives confidence to the horse to explore further. The horse must feel respected, encouraged to explore, and given the time to process. Concentrating the forces above the center of mass is complex and involves the whole physique. The education is easier if the horse performs slowly and we work at the level of minute shifts that we channel between our upper thighs. The second we bend the horse’s neck or shift our body weight back to front or from one seat bone over the other, we alter the horse’s mastery of balance.
We can go fast and inject or slow and educate. Teaching the horse to master balance does a lot more than balance control. Mastering balance reduces the intensity of the forces stressing the lower front legs and cervical and thoracic vertebrae at impact. We can lead the horse to better hoof placement as we do by controlling our back on the balancing beam. Better joints’ placement at impact includes knee and hip joints. At a slower frequency, our physical intelligence can reach mastery of forces that our consciousness cannot master. Tai chi and other martial arts further the capacities of the human physique. The science of slow motion furthers the capacities of the horse’s physique.
Dressage boot camps will urge you to go fast because a boot camp aims to numb critical thinkers and make them obey stupid orders. When dressage returns to its original function, which is to educate and coordinate the horse’s physique for the athletic demand of the performance, the horse’s mental processing is the primary asset. The horse needs to process questions and have the time to explore solutions. Our understanding of the horse’s body function and the performance’s athletic demands allows us to assist and eventually redirect the horse’s processing.
Jean Luc

12/08/2024

I have addressed this problem so many times in the field and in my group that I still don’t quite know why it has taken so long to actually do a short article on F***l Water Syndrome aka “FWS”.

FWS typically presents in horses as an excessive amount of thin brown liquid being ejected from a horse’s a**s. This is different from diarrhea because it doesn’t have any f***l matter contained in the liquid. The horse’s manure may be on the soft side or may be perfectly formed.

In most cases FWS isn’t debilitating to the horse but it is messy and can coat their butts and legs with nasty smelling and irritating liquid. It is especially difficult during the cold winter months as you can see from the photo I used. The fluid clumps on fur and freezes while the cold temperatures make it difficult if not impossible to clean.

Obviously FWS is a gastro-intestinal issue but most owners miss the mark when treating FWS. Owners will throw expensive supplements at the problem and the symptoms will persist. I know this from personal experience with my mare, Flair. That poor mare had about 32 different supplements thrown at her and nothing worked.

Probiotics, prebiotics, biosponge, ulcer treatments, gut supplements and anything else I tried wouldn’t clear it up. Nothing ever even slowed it down.

Then while attending an equine nutrition clinic I was having a cocktail with one of the more well known equine nutrition PhDs and I mentioned my frustration to her. Of course she had the answer!

Just so everyone knows, it’s not that I’m really smart but I hang out with really smart people!

In the overwhelming majority of cases FWS is being caused by a mild case of a condition known as Right Dorsal Colitis. I got the full monty clinical explanation, and as I would do in any conversation with an extremely bright, lovely woman who is twenty years younger I sat at the edge of my chair in rapt attention while understanding none of it but all I needed to know was that it is a condition similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome in humans.

IBS is something that most people in my age range (somewhere between classic and Jurassic) are familiar with. The cure for both conditions is simple: add easily digestible fiber. I began taking a tablespoon of psyllium each day and my IBS cleared up almost immediately.

Right Dorsal Colitis can become very serious and require clinical intervention in some cases. In severe cases FWS is accompanied by lethargy, weight loss, lack of appetite and colic. I am NOT a vet so you should discuss any concerns that you have with your vet and follow their treatment advice.

Many times RDC is caused by coarse hay. Mature, coarse hay is very high in fiber and can be difficult to process in the gut causing some inflammation resulting in the watery fountain of stench emanating from your horse’s butt.

My own experience with FWS is very much like what I hear from others. The FWS shows up in the fall when the horses are off grass and on hay. Whenever I get different hay. My horses are both easy keepers and metabolic so I feed mostly very mature low NSC grass hay ensuring that I am dealing with FWS for most of the year. Quite often you will find that it is worse during the winter and the simple explanation is that they are eating more hay which attenuates the problem.

The dietary treatment for both conditions is to replace some (or all) of the forage with a complete feed enabling the gut to recover by offering some easily digestible fiber.

You can also try using some psyllium but it’s expensive and it typically requires a large dose.

My personal go to and the advice that I have offered to hundreds of people as a first treatment is to simply add a pound of hay stretcher pellets per day to the horse’s normal diet and this usually clears it up. If the FWS doesn’t clear up in a few days I increase it to two pounds per day.

Any genuine complete feed will work as long as the crude fiber is over 20% and the fat level is low. I typically choose to use hay stretcher because it is very high in fiber, usually over 25% and it is not heavily fortified nor high in calories so I don’t really need to make huge adjustments in their diets. I simply toss a cup or two on top of their normal ration and call it a day.

For a 1,000 pound horse two pounds per day should offer relief of the symptoms but if two pounds of hay stretcher doesn’t change things it’s probably time to try something else and at this point all bets are off. Psyllium would be my next step along with a gut supplement.

It is almost never a lack of probiotics unless the horse had recently been on a course of antibiotics.

The long term solution is to feed better hay. If you can find some nice, soft second cutting grass hay it would go a long way towards drying things up.

There are a number of downsides to feeding better hay. Cost and availability are at the top of the list. Then there’s the horse. Second cutting hay isn’t the best choice for easy keepers or insulin resistant horses so this option has its limits.

Many times FWS is linked to insulin resistant horses as a sure sign that they are insulin resistant. The conditions are not related except that most IR horses are on j***y, low starch, low calorie hay.

Please allow me to head off the naysayers and negative comments. This is not by any means a sure fire cure for FWS. It is, however, a very inexpensive treatment as a first go to attempt and it does work in most cases. If not, then try all the whiz bang supplements that probably won’t work either.

In short, if you have a horse with a squirty butt go buy a bag of cheap hay stretcher pellets and run some through the horse. If it works, you got off cheap, if not at least you know something that isn’t going to work.

As a final reminder and a more serious tone, if the FWS persists and the hay stretcher doesn’t work I would strongly encourage you to please consult your veterinarian and have all the appropriate diagnostics done.

Thank you for reading this article.

I am retired and write blog articles to try to make horse owner's lives easier and horse's lives better.

If you found this article to be helpful my horses would be very grateful if you would consider buying some hay for them by going to:

https://buymeacoffee.com/jimthefeedguy

Of course your contributions are not required, nor expected but all are very much appreciated.

Cheers!

12/06/2024

There has been so much going on around the topic of ECVM, this congenital malformation is one we are diagnosing, managing and studying at Denali Equine in partnership with Rexos Inc, under the guidance of the legendary Dr. Sharon May-Davis. We wanted to give you the top ten points on ECVM facts. (Sorry this is long- Well worth the full read!)

1. ECVM is a congenital condition, meaning they are born with it. We suspect it is a recessive genetic disorder because two unaffected adults can produce offspring with it. There are several groups racing to find the genetics behind this condition. More information on the horizon.

2. ECVM is not a fatal diagnosis. However, it can be. It depends on the severity of the malformation and how well the horse can functionally compensate.

3. Radiographs of the lower neck are necessary to diagnose the condition. These radiographs must be clear lateral and obliques of C6, C7 and ideally T1. These can be done in the field for most horses. However larger generators do get better images.

4. Variability: Horses can be either a bilateral or unilateral malformation of C6, which in 52% of C6 cases can transpose either bilaterally or unilaterally. To C7; T1 and the first ribs are variably affected.

5. Studies show horses with transposition of the ventral lamina to C7 are more likely to suffer from clinical neck pain than horses with normal anatomy. In our experience horses with rib malformations have more severe clinical signs than those with normal ribs (no clear studies yet).

6. The bones absolutely do not tell the whole story. However, bones do not lie. They often indicate the level of soft tissue malformations present. The more severe the boney changes- the more severe the soft tissue is altered around them.

7. Clinical picture: all horses are not lame, but they do all have subtle clinical signs. Most often the clinical signs are not limb related lameness (but can be). These horses can show signs of the pain ethogram, rearing, sporadic behavior, abnormal front limb flight patterns (especially with equipment), girthiness, resistance to go forward, doesn’t like physical touch (brushing, blanketing ex). The signs are so variable for every horse!

8. The common things heard from owners/trainers:
* The horse was always bad from the start (this is concerning for the more severe cases)
* The horse was fine until it wasn’t. We find this is from something changed in the program. i.e., was imported, switched barns, changed jobs.
* They don’t understand why the horse is failing quicker than usual as it gets older. As the horse ages the clinical signs become more apparent. The body can only manage for so long. Think of it this way- the foundation was built wrong from the beginning. Therefore, it takes time for the cracks in your walls or floors to show, it then takes those cracks a while before they become a structural problem in your house.
* A minor incident happened and now they’re not ok. Suspect an injury can cause the horse to spiral out of stabilization or have the ability to compensate. An example could be getting cast or trailering event then the horse was never the same. Example, you do not know your house wasn’t built well until the storm blows it over.

9. These horses have significant soft tissue pathology on necropsies. Therefore, no matter what the data is showing us: If the horse has ECVM, is clinical, and other differentials have been ruled out these horses are clinically affected by the ECVM.

10. On necropsies we have found:
* Missing, malformed and fractured ribs
* Abnormal nerve patterns, these nerves can be totally entrapped and compressed by abnormal muscle patterns. The dorsal scalene can trap the large nerves of the brachial plexus within its abnormal paths. The phrenic nerve can get pulled inappropriately and leave impressions within the ventral scalene.
* Abnormal muscles: dorsal scalene, ventral scalene, iliocostalis, longus coli, re**us abdominal, intercostal muscles, serratus ventails cervicis. All these muscles have critical roles in stability, proprioception, and biomechanics.
* Abnormal vascular patterns
* Trachea abnormalities
* Fascial changes

ECVM is currently a controversial and sensitive topic so we thought we would share a few known quick facts to help you understand this issue better. Please go to our website (www.DenaliEquine.com) to find more information and links to the current studies on this disease. We are researching and studying these horses! We are working on several angles of research right now throughout Non-Profit Rexos Inc. If you would like more information on how you can help, please reach out!

DeClue Equine saddlefitting.us

11/17/2024

For anyone wondering, 50 degrees Fahrenheit is 10 degrees Celsius.

11/10/2024

I had a client say to me once; "I don't lunge horses and I don't want one around that I have to."

I was like, well then you miss out on a lot of great horses that just need a bit of foreplay before you climb on and ride.

Blunt, but I think I made my point. 🤷

Lunging your uncomfortable, defensive or simply 'feeling bitchy horse,' before you ride them has absolutely nothing to do with whether they are a bronc or not. I often call it a systems check, or warming up their want to. And some horses need that extra attention paid to them, that gesture of respect and understanding, to smooth over the rough edges of their worry. To re-awaken their trust in even the most familiar situation or handler. It's kind of the equine version of, "Don't talk to me before I've had my coffee."

I've been training horses for a very long time, and the one thing I've learned is that my fragile human ego is not allowed to lay down any ground rules when it comes to vibing well with a multitude of equine partners. I have learned that it is easier on everyone, both horse and human, if I meet them where they are, not where I expect they should be. If that takes a few minutes of moving their feet around and settling their mind, then no harm, no foul.

Have a good day folks! 😊

Pictured below; Hombre, the horse that has most taught me the benefits of lunging...he really doesn't like to be spoken to before coffee! 😉

11/01/2024

How a horse is put together is called Conformation. This term comes from the word "conform". Many people confuse this word with "confirmation", but we are not looking to confirm anything here. We want a horse to conform to an ideal body type for the kind of horse we want for what the horse will do.

The left image is my idea of an ideal polo horse. The red line across the top of the back might be considered short for a jumper or saddle seat horse, but for polo a short back translates to increased agility for polo.

The purple line at the shoulder shows the slope of the shoulder, which in this horse is nicely sloped. This indicates greater ability to reach with the forehand and that means more speed. A steep slope of the shoulder like this might not be desirable for a draft horse that does not need speed, but rather needs more power to the ground with their forehand in order to pull a heavy load.

The two yellow lines indicate the length of the leg and when compared to the lower red line, the proportion of legs compared with the length of the barrel might be a little long for some people. But for polo this would be good because longer legs mean a longer stride and more speed.

The horse's conformation on the right is not ideal for polo. The shorter legs in relation to the longer back are not ideal for speed and agility. I would consider this horse's conformation ideal for an all-arounder horse with substantial versatility. Compared to the more specialized conformation of the polo horse, this black horse can potentially be good at many different equestrian pursuits.

This horse with versatile conformation at liberty in a pasture allows for its light movement. We see ample hind reach and forehand extension. The result is a nicely centered balance indicated by the yellow line. This whole picture of movement in this horse shows "self carriage", meaning the horse is carrying itself in centered balance, not heavy on the forehand or off balance in any way.

No matter what type of horse you are seeking for whatever purpose, I think a horse must have conformation that allows the horse to achieve this kind of light self carriage. There are horses with disproportionate ratios of the elements of conformation discussed here. These horses' legs might be too short, the back too long, the shoulders too straight and more so as to prevent or impede self carriage. This cannot be fixed, so these kinds of conformation flaws are to be avoided, which is why we study conformation.

How a horse is put together matters. The color of the coat, for example, does not matter in terms of movement and balance, yet for some riders, color is their most important criteria for selecting a horse. This makes no sense to me. Learning the variations of equine body form is the study of ratios and proportions and it is called conformation. learn it.